Vonnie Raw

I have been ‘knowingly’ living without the possibility of having children for 21 years now; and though I have come to accept it, the questions that go through my mind never really go away and I suppose I tend to keep myself busy as a way of coping. I’m lucky enough to spend some of that busy time being creative. I’m an artist who has decided to use my work to explore themes in childlessness.

The picture accompanying this post is my own work. It’s a sketchbook study that shows the lifetime of a felled tree through the rings and cracks in the fallen trunk. The column represents human constructs, hierarchy and history, in contrast to the natural form of the tree trunk.The column is actually Corinthian in style, with carved acanthus leaves and scrolls (all ‘natural’ forms) used to adorn it. I'm thinking about my history and legacy, and how people will know my story especially if I have nobody to tell. I'm also thinking about my relationship with nature, because although I can't have children, I still belong to our beautiful planet. All living things leave their story behind in some way, some more visibly than others. We all touch hearts and lives, and our energy is never truly lost. (Ask Albert Einstein!)